We met by chance as neighbors and instantly clicked. We both had very young children at the time and channeled our creativity through scrapbooking, craft fairs, flea markets, and antique stores. Sometimes our kids were dragged along kicking and screaming, so it usually involved some sort of bribe to get them to behave (Parenting 101). We started flea marketing locally and as our children grew, so did our footprint. Our journeys have included multiple states, torrid weather, 101-degree fevers, U-Haul rentals, knee-deep mud, high winds, some regretful purchases, and questionable decision making. But we still loved every minute of it.
As the years passed, our style evolved and we found that European antiques were the soul of our passion. We drove our husbands crazy with our constantly revolving furniture and decor. Luckily, they allowed us to have full creative control over our homes. Neither had any interest in decorating, thank God. We started avidly collecting items that were not necessarily of value, but items that spoke to us. It doesn’t matter that a piece isn’t “perfect.” Imperfect objects only add character and speak of history. As a bonus, if your child (or husband) accidentally damages a piece, well then, so be it.
There were naysayers along the way, of course. Those who would ask, “Do you have anything that’s not white?” or, “Why don’t you add some color?” or, “Why do you like pieces that are old and chippy?” We chose to not listen to unsolicited advice and to follow our instincts. Flea marketing and antiquing is not for the faint of heart. It’s not that we don’t love color. We used to have a lot of color in our homes back when the kids were younger, and even pre-children era. But we found that we tire of it easily. There’s something serene and calming about white; something we feel that buffers the ugliness we often see in the world. Our homes are our havens, and everyone should be able to retreat to a space of serenity.
Flash forward 20 plus years and here we are! After navigating life the best that we could, one of our daughters created an Instagram page for us on a whim. We created Ivory Lane Home as an avenue to share our love for vintage, European decor and to inspire others to think outside of the norm when designing and decorating their homes. We have learned a lot, but there is still so much to learn on this journey. We are thankful for where we are now in our lives, but at the same time, we have big dreams ahead!
We’ve had many ups and downs over the years. We’ve quit social media about 3 times, only to be drawn back by what we love. We assumed social media simply involved posting a picture and then moving on to the next post. Boy, did we have a lot to learn. Social media can be a full-time job, from staging our homes, editing photos, captioning our posts, and most importantly engaging with our followers. It’s because of our followers and their support that we have been able to go from “just two moms who love the hunt for vintage pieces” to starting Ivory Lane Home. We wanted to be an example to our children and show them It’s never too late to chase a dream. Who would have thought that 25 years later our love of antiquing would turn into a small business where we share with thousands of people what we love and create.
Through our experience in flea market and antique scouting we’ve developed an eye for finding the beauty in pieces that are often overlooked by others. We pride ourselves in having the ability to imagine time-worn items outside of their current state and how they can transform a home with just a little bit of TLC. We see beauty in objects that have been weathered and aged to “perfection” by years endured and showcase both of our homes on social media because of the seamless flow of our design styles. We think it’s important to not get caught up in the current home decor “trends” and to stay true to yourself and trust your instincts. Our aesthetic is a neutral combination of soft and romantic, juxtaposed with vintage architectural pieces and elegant European antiques. We’ve merged our love for the “perfectly imperfect” pieces into a small business scouting for clients. Social media has enabled us to continually evolve and present us with many new opportunities. We hope to continue sharing inspiration and our love for time-worn pieces.
We have learned so many lessons. We’d say the most important is to understand that behind all of the pretty pictures and what seems like perfect lives, there are stories and struggles. There are people we have met through social media who have faced insurmountable pain and still have the courage to share their experiences and bear their souls, even in the most private of times. There’s a lot to be said about that. It makes one want to be a kinder person, to have empathy, and to level-set on what is truly important in life.
We are so happy that you have visited our site today! Thank you for your support!
xoxo
Pam & Kelly